SRINAGAR: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar has been selected among six premier institutions to receive a prestigious research grant of Rs 2.3 crore under the Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR), Category B, launched by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). The project will be executed in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, which serves as the central hub in a larger ‘hub-and-spoke’ research model.
The one-year initiative brings together a network of institutions to work on two focused research themes — one on cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, and the other on semiconductor and digital technologies for the automotive sector. NIT Srinagar has been chosen to contribute under the second theme, and will work towards advancing indigenous solutions in semiconductors and automotive technologies.
Dr Sheikh Aamir Ahsan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, will serve as the Principal Investigator (PI) for NIT Srinagar. A multidisciplinary team of over a dozen faculty members across departments — including Electronics, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science, Metallurgy, Physical Sciences, and IT — will contribute to the research effort. Senior faculty like Prof Mohd Farooq Wani, Prof G A Harmain, and Prof Adnan Qayoum are also part of the collaborative team.
The Rs 2.3 crore grant sanctioned under the PAIR scheme will be administered by IIT Kanpur, the hub institution, which will oversee all collaborative activities and financial management. While the funds will reside with IIT Kanpur, spoke institutions like NIT Srinagar will actively engage in all research and development components of the project.
Congratulating the NIT Srinagar team, Director Prof Binod Kumar Kanaujia said, “This prestigious collaboration with IIT Kanpur is a testament to the growing research strength of NIT Srinagar. The PAIR scheme reflects the national commitment to drive innovation through institutional synergy and thematic research. The semiconductor and automotive sectors are strategic pillars for India’s technological future, and we are proud to contribute to this national mission.”
Prof Atikur Rehman, Registrar, praised the achievement, saying, “This project showcases the strength of our multidisciplinary faculty and the collaborative spirit that defines NIT Srinagar. I congratulate the PI, co-investigators, and all involved for securing this highly competitive grant.”
Dean Research and Consultancy, Prof Roohie Naaz, added, “This collaboration will catalyse interdisciplinary research and open new doors for innovation-driven growth. It is a significant milestone in our pursuit of becoming a research-intensive institute aligned with national priorities.”
Alongside NIT Srinagar, the other spoke institutions in the PAIR-B network include Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Kanpur University, Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Una, King George’s Medical University (KGMU) Lucknow, NIT Arunachal Pradesh, and Ravenshaw University, Cuttack.
The PAIR scheme, launched by ANRF, aims to strengthen research capacity in institutions with limited infrastructure by linking them to stronger hubs. It aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and places a strong emphasis on mentoring, collaborative innovation, and industry-academia-policy partnerships.
